IMR: People: Miscellaneous

This page (a subset of my online journal's "People" cast page) is an unusual exercise in cyber-namedropping, a chunk of search-engine bait, where I — with the assistance of my wife Jen's infallible memory — have collected miscellaneous random names of people who've crossed our paths ... at least in the last decade or so. It's partially a public archive of folks we've known for our own reference (as no doubt, over time, we'll begin to forget), but also an invitation to the people listed (provided we're still on speaking terms, which may or may not be the case) or other people who know them to get in touch, catch up, and share memories and anecdotes (a.k.a. blackmail material). After all, everyone does an ego-search — or ex-search — on the web eventually. Viva La Google!

Small Kid Time (1978-1986):

Erin O. — My first girlfriend, insofar as I called her that and she called me her boyfriend. Of course, we were both five, preschoolers at First Chinese Church of Christ, but at the time she was my whole world. We both attended kindergarten at Lunalilo Elementary as well. Tragically, she moved to a neighbor island the following year — to Moloka`i, I believe — and apart from two postcards, I never heard from her again. I'm quite ashamed that today, I can't remember her last name. I'm pretty sure it began with an 'O.' Gregg Fujie — A most reliable and energetic playmate. He lived at the top of a hill, on the edge of a Pearlridge forest that held a million adventures. I know he attended Punahou, and apparently went on to study at the University of Washington. Kevin Johnson — One of my best friends at Lunalilo Elementary. He lived a block away from the school. We liked the Transformers, but we loved Star Wars, and had memorized every line of dialogue from the films. For a while, we were convinced we were ewoks. Natasha Tom — A pretty kindergarten classmate. I know I went to her birthday party at the now-long-gone Farrell's ice cream parlor in Ala Moana Center, and I know she lived on Kinau Street. Where she went after Lunalilo Elementary, I may never know.

Awkward Teen Years (1987-1992):

Marsha Alegre — Principal of Washington Intermediate School circa 1987. Rebecca C. Bird — A definitively nifty woman who once won the heart of Nate. She was the star of a movie I never finished, "Broccoli is Two Dollars a Pound." (I still have the footage somewhere, including a blooper shot of her snorfing Sunkist orange soda when Nate made her laugh.) Becky lived on Anapuni Street, less than two blocks from where I live now. I haven't heard from her in probably a decade, but strangely enough I get e-mail now and then from her current sweetheart. Susan Bringas — Known as the "Mad Hatter" on the "Prophet's Place" BBS, and boy did she know how to wear a hat. She was also creative and thoughtful, and among my fondest memories of my daughter's first year involve her and a kite-flying adventure at Kaka`ako Waterfront Park. Craig M. Burger — The notorious CMB. Last contact was probably when he called Jen three days before our wedding in 1997 and told her not to marry me. Knowing his history and tendencies, fortunately, she ignored his advice. Aeng Chuly Chong — A classmate at Washington Intermediate School. She went to McKinley, and then to Brown University. Now Angelie Chong, she was elected president of the National Asian Pacific American Law Students Association while studying at the University of Washington School of Law. Edison Chong — My social studies teacher at Washington Intermediate School. Genevieve A. Dodd — A Mililani High School classmate, and a kindred, creative soul. We had but a couple of classes together, but she's one of the people from high school I remember most of all. She was an astonishingly good writer, and even put up with my attempts at Douglas Adams-esque prose. I always listed her as a co-author of the first stories I attempted to write, that of intergalactic traveler Znimphoebe and his missing stapler. Before graduation, she'd moved to Alaska, and then to the Mainland. I got a warm e-mail from her a couple of years ago with the welcome news that she was happy and in love (but trapped in Dayton, Ohio). Jennifer Dawn (Gibson) Hans — A Trojan Times colleague from Mililani High School, but someone I really got to know better during our years at Ka Leo at UH-Manoa. Energetic, admirably outspoken, and a natural for sports reporting, she eventually graduated, moved to Indiana, got married and became a mother. She keeps in touch with Donica, and visits Hawaii now and then. She returned in 2002 for our ten-year reunion (which I, living here, managed to miss). Jasen Edralin — A role-playing game fanatic who knew Nate and Tracy and helped introduce me to "Teenagers From Outer Space." He also starred (along with Nate and Rebecca Bird) as the homicidal maniac in a movie I never finished entitled "Broccoli is Two Dollars a Pound." I still have the footage saved somewhere. Matthew Ericson-Becklin — One of the stranger students at Washington Intermediate School. Karl Fasick — Perhaps best described as tall and sturdy and yet cute and fuzzy, Karl lurked about the "Prophet's Place" BBS as "Kosmo." He and Esther Izuo made an unstoppable pair of wit and pop-culture expertise. He later married, and at last contact was working for a "computers for education" outfit. Robyn Linn Goong — One of many interns I had the pleasure of working with when I got a summer job at the Board of Water Supply (in 1990, I think). In an odd connection, she's worked at First Chinese Church of Christ, where I went to preschool. Dennis & Fred Goya — Brothers who were classmates at Washington Intermediate School. Matthew Grapes — A classmate at Washington Intermediate School. Karen Gwaltney — A Trojan Times colleague from Mililani High School. A person with limitless energy and a boisterous personality. I would later bump into her often at the College of Business Administration at UH. A search of the web suggests she might now be living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Brant Harvey — A "Prophet's Place" BBS regular, he was one of the sharpest guys I knew. Able to whim up a provocative yet entertaining rant on any and every topic, to this day he lives in fear that I'll publish a photo I have of him in a coconut bra. I last talked to him in October 2000 when I was visiting Nate in Portland, Oregon. Cindy F.H. How — A Mililani High School classmate. Always smiling and sharp as a tack, we've kept in touch off and on over the years (despite my poor correspondence record). She went on to get an engineering degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, then got her Master's Degree from the University of Texas at Austin. At last report, she was working in New York. Holli Howard — A classmate at Washington Intermediate School. Serena Infante — A Mililani High School classmate, and (if I recall correctly) class president. Articulate and ambitious, she also has a sister, Esme Infante, an accomplished local journalist. The two of them have apparently done local theater together. John Inferrera — My P.E. teacher at Washington Intermediate School, responsible for tortune in the form of both physical activity and disturbingly small uniform shorts. Esther L. Izuo — A "Prophet's Place" regular who could on one hand make mince meat out of a moron in three seconds flat, but on the other served as a protective, virtual "mother hen" to fellow members. A dance virtuoso at UH, she was friends with Karl Fasick, Charles Kam, Wayne and Jen, as well as many other mutual acquaintences. Tragically, I royally pissed her off in 1997, and she's rightfully ignored me ever since. Charles Kam — A friend of Karl Fasick's whom I once referred to as "The Ambassador of Fun." He clearly thought I was an incurable dork, but put up with me anyway. I still bump into him now and then. Jason Kaneshiro — A soft-spoken but skilled sports writer I worked with at Ka Leo who ended up winning the heart of Donica. Currently writes for the Star-Bulletin. Larissa Klimpel — A regular "Prophet's Place" BBS guest, also known as Ris and Nightsong. Wonderfully creative, witty, and cute, she won the heart of many, including Nate. Unafraid of the usual characters a BBS attracts, she attended nearly every picnic and party and became part of the social core of that motley crew. At last report, she was studying at the University of South Carolina Kimberly D.M. Ko — Even though she's 21 now, I still think of her as the cute 14-year-old who wandered about the "Prophet's Place" BBS and mused about the mysteries of life almost a decade ago. She attended Sacred Hearts Academy and kept in touch with my brother over the years, and is now a student at UH (president of ITMA, in fact). I still run into her now and then, and remain shocked each time that she's no longer little. She even keeps an online diary. Jenny Lai — A sweet and smart classmate at Washington Intermediate School. We both were in Mr. Chong's advanced social studies class. She went on to McKinley High School (Class of 1992). Thanks to this page, she e-mailed me in the fall of 2005. She's still in Hawaii and doing well. Trang Dai Le — A much maligned classmate at Washington Intermediate School. Sung Hwan Lee — One of my best friends (not that I had very many) at Washington Intermediate School circa 1987. He introduced me to the world of pet fish and Star Trek. Naomi Lovell — A Trojan Times colleague from Mililani High School. She was a big-cheese editor. Like many in high school, she was cynical and sarcastic and ironic, but she was good at it. She keeps in occasional touch with Wayne. Alan Macaibay — A Mililani High School classmate. He was an uninhibited and earnest thespian, and partnered with me for some Shakespeare in Mrs. Fujimoto's English class. I see his name now and then in cast lists for local dramatic productions. Pamela S. Maru — A regular "Prophet's Place" BBS guest (a.k.a. Jacuzzi), she was my first girlfriend (for maybe three months, ending Thanksgiving 1993). She was the one who introduced me to Hilo, which I now consider my spiritual home. She worked at the Student Activities Council along with Cori and Chelle and knew Jen. In Hilo, she met Ian, whom she later married in 1999. They broke up four years later, however, and Pam is now with a new man in Hilo and has a baby on the way (due Dec. 18, 2004). Diane Masaki — A sweet, funny, big-hearted woman who was a regular ("Faerie") on the "Prophet's Place" BBS (as well as the old "Saimin" BBS), and with whom I shared many special moments during those crazy, geeky days. A talented musician, she's a librarian by trade, previously working at the Kihei Public Library and the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu Library, and apparently now heading Children & Youth Services at Aiea Public Library. Steve Nedorolik — A neighbor, a fellow Trekker, an Eagle Scout, and a guy who put up with my endless series of Big Ideas. I still run into him (and his beautiful family) now and then: Oct. 1998, Feb. 2001. Mailien Nguyen — A classmate at Washington Intermediate School and one of Nate's many crushes. She apparently went on to Iolani School, Brown University and Stanford University. Tom Oshiro — My math teacher at Washington Intermediate School. It was in his class I met Nate (who tripped me in every trip to the pencil sharpener) for the very first time. Waheed Osmanzi — A gifted classmate at Washington Intermediate School. Mitzi Pinder — A classmate at Washington Intermediate School. Chad Robinson — Also known as The Rev. Zowee Wow and Maimes Bondo. As an ordained minister with the ULC, he was the first to marry Jen and I at a pool hall in Kailua. Brandy Rouleau — A classmate at Washington Intermediate School. Ruth Tamanaha — My English teacher at Washington Intermediate School. She's still there now. Faye T. Tanaka — Nicknamed (affectionately) "Cujo," she was an English teacher and the Newswriting advisor at Mililani High School. I worked with her from 1990 to 1992. Her capable and principled management of the illustrious Trojan Times is responsible for sparking the lifelong obsession I now have for all things media. Notably, in June 2001, she wrote a letter to the editor in Education Week lamenting the "the lack of dedicated students" in school publications, saying the current crop "lack[s] the drive and commitment that were prevalent a few years ago." I hope I was one of the good kids! Jansen T. Uyeda — An incredibly talented, good-hearted classmate of mine at Mililani High School. We used to share our drawings in science class (he was quite skilled — I know now he was just humoring me). He was also a great musician. We crossed paths now and then over the years at UH, where he was in the engineering program. He graduated in 1997, then got his Masters at USC. At last update, he was working at TRW Space & Electronics. Kimberly Van Treese — An orange-haired classmate at Washington Intermediate School. Kevin & Devon Vasconcellos Jennifer Willison — A Mililani High School classmate. Also a drama club regular, she was the subject of many an adolescent crush at MHS. Having her in my P.E. class did not make my life easier, that's for sure. She went on to get her BFA in Theater Arts from Point Park College in Pittsburgh. She now lives in Los Angeles now with her beau Mark, is a working thespian in L.A. with a theatre comany up and running in Chicago, and has a movie coming out from Shoreline Entertainment called Kalamazoo? Her birthday is Dec. 17.

UH (1992-2001):

Tom Bamburg — A photographer at Ka Leo. He seemingly disappeared off the face of the Earth for a while (apparently he was in San Diego), but in 2001, returned to Hawaii. Genevieve A. (Ancog) Suzuki — A columnist for Ka Leo who wrote "What A Life" and succeeded me as editor in 1997. She wrote for the Honolulu Advertiser, MidWeek and Oceanic Cable and — after doing a few "The Goddess Speaks" columns — now works on the city desk at the Star-Bulletin. Olulaniokamanu Bicoy Mike Burger — A colorful armchair activist and sharp-witted commentator on campus life during and after my years at Ka Leo, who also happened to work at the UH chemistry department. Remembered for many, many sayings, including, "My building has a clothes dryer so big, it could fluff-dry an elephant." Wai-Kee Chan — An account executive from my Ka Leo years, and a friend of Donica and Mio. Charles Chong Greg Cieless — A "backshop" guru during my years at Ka Leo... and for many, many years after. It's as if he's been keeping the gears turning forever. He and Marlene Mattos make a cute couple. Vanice Cockreham Joshua Cooper — A columnist at Ka Leo, but so much more. I worked with him off and on in the years that followed, as he took on one great cause after another. In addition to lecturing in the UH political science department, he was an all-around activist who the Star-Bulletin described as "a key player in most of Hawaii's nonviolent human-rights demonstrations for more than a decade." Michelle Cournoyer — A copy desk standout. Originally from Boston, she came to our late wedding reception in April 1998. She wrote for the Star-Bulletin and was interviewed in 2000 for a piece in the Honolulu Advertiser. Keith DeMello — A copy editor I worked with at Ka Leo. He and Heidi Lessely made a great team. I bumped into him a few years ago, when he was working at local public relations firm McNeil Wilson Communications, where he's apparently done a lot of work with the U.S.S. Missouri Memorial Association. Donalyn Dela Cruz — A writer I worked with at Ka Leo, now a reporter for KHON (FOX) 2. Veronica Fajardo — One of the warmest, most giving souls I worked with at Ka Leo. A 1981 Pearl City High School graduate, she went on to write for the Honolulu Advertiser. We still exchange Christmas cards, and she's now in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She was interviewed for a September 2000 article in the Concordia University newspaper. Kirk Fernandez — A writer and copy editor I worked with at Ka Leo, now a reporter for KHON (FOX) 2. Bernadette Fo — An advertising executive at Ka Leo, she also turned out to be the sister of Tony Fo, with whom I worked at PBEC. Mark French — An editor at Ka Leo when I was a lowly writer. Truth be told, I lost touch with him pretty quickly, although he did pop up unexpectedly in town in January 2001. Sadly, I missed him. Sjarif Goldstein — A managing editor at Ka Leo when I was a lowly writer. He went on to work at the Star-Bulletin, but more notably, was (along with Jennifer Hans and myself) one of the first to cross that into the terrifying yet rewarding world of parenthood. Jill (Gomes) Sprott — A writer at Ka Leo. Last seen in this article in the Star-Bulletin. Robin J. Gould — Editorial advisor during my years at Ka Leo. She taught us, guided us, pulled no punches when we screwed up, and most wonderfully, became a friend and confidant outside the office. If you've seen the movie "Primary Colors," you'd swear Kathy Bates' character was modeled after her. Last seen chowing down on alligator in Florida. Stephen Guzman — An extremely successful account executive during my years at Ka Leo, and unofficially voted the cutest guy on staff. Deceptively youthful in appearance, he's actually a family man. Yuen (Ha) Tcheou — An account executive at Ka Leo. Currently the Sales & Marketing Manager at Roberts Hawaii. Kevin Hashiro — A sports editor at Ka Leo. I still see him often, as he works with KCCN downtown in the same building I do. Vickie Hotema Baron Obata — An account executive at Ka Leo, he remained good friends with Donica, and years later hooked us up with Sprint PCS. He went on to work for a mortgage loan company, and in one ten minute conversation taught me almost everything I need to know about how I'll never afford a house in Hawaii. Cora Iezza — An editorial page guru at Ka Leo, she would go on to bring improvements to, and fight many battles within, the university's strangely-managed publications board. She won the Columbia Scholastic Press Advisers Association 1998 Sullivan Award. Wilma Jandoc — A writer and features desk standout at Ka Leo. An anime/manga enthusiast (like Jason Yadao), she writes occasionally for the Star-Bulletin. Kory Kado — A student-help coworker at the Academy of International Business, located in the College of Business Administration building at UH. She probably thought I was weird, but she was very nice. She came to our late wedding reception in 1998, but sadly I have since lost track of her. Joel F. Kislan — A photographer at Ka Leo. Deceptively softspoken, he and Kylie were rather unceremoniously dropped from the 'Venue project in 1997. He's never been heard from since, and a web search finds only mailing list posts — one for the Pine mail reader and one for gay guys. Keith Kosaki — A sports editor at Ka Leo. He could curse like a sailor, but had a secret soft side. Robert Lastimado — Was advertising manager at Ka Leo. Del-Burt Lau — Also known as "Bleeb." A sharp and skilled photographer with whom I was honored to work during my years at Ka Leo. He had an eye for the ladies, to be sure, but also did great portraiture... including a wonderful set for Jen and I before our wedding. Last I heard from him, he was in Santa Barbara. Heidi Lessely — A copy editor (chief, in fact!) I worked with at Ka Leo. She was a barrel of fun, and an animal lover, who made a great team with fellow copy desk maven Keith DeMello. I still remember visiting her and her cat in her small cottage near UH. I lost track of her years ago, but found a photo of her at a dog show in September 2001 on the website for the Bulldog Club of Colorado Springs. Cory Lum — A photographer during my Ka Leo years. He went on to shoot for the Honolulu Advertiser. Todd Masui — First and foremost a talented graphic designer, he was one of the "backshop" crew during my Ka Leo years. Marlene Mattos — The office manager at Ka Leo during my Ka Leo years... and for many, many years after. She's seemingly been running the show at the Ka Leo Building forever. She did graduate the same semester I did, though — Spring 2001. She and Greg Cieless make a cute couple. Kim Murakawa — One of the editors I worked for at Ka Leo. She went on to work at the Honolulu Advertiser, KHON, and as the governor's press secretary. Currently studying law at Harvard. Dane S. Muramoto — Affectionately known as "Bane," he was a Board of Publications hood who was installed on the Ka Leo staff under Genevieve Ancog. Mentioned once in these pages: January 1998. Kellie Onaga — A news guru I worked with at Ka Leo, who made an incredible team with Jenny Tom. I ran into her in downtown Honolulu now and then, but at last contact, she was doing quite well working for an NBC affiliate in California. Paul Philpott — A writer and copy editor at Ka Leo. I haven't kept in touch, but I did see him at Sharon Ishida's retirement party in August 2001. He's written for Pacific Business News, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, Hawaii Business, and Hawaii Remodeling Magazine. Dave Richardson — A news guru I worked with at Ka Leo. I most remember him for defending a poor, defenseless bird during a picnic at Magic Island from a rampaging pack of kids. The bird didn't make it, but he let the kids (and their parents) have it. Ruth Shiroma — One of my earliest mentors, when I was a lowly news desk writer at Ka Leo. A warm and principled person, I'm fortunate to call her a friend. A local tech-industry survivor, I'm also indebted to her for priceless career advice. She's also an incredible singer, songwriter and poet. Mentioned occasionally in these pages: August 2001 (my graduation party). Jason Soeda — A perenially youthful fellow who worked with me during my years at Ka Leo. He was a features writer, and regular reviewer. He spent some time in Japan as a JET tutor. I last saw him in February 2000. Curiously enough, he's listed as a copy editor at Ka Leo as recently as January 2003. Katrina A. (Souza) Valdez — A PR major and copyediting classmate during the latter half of my ten-year stint as a journalism undergraduate at UH. The best person to sit next to during a current events quiz. Thanks to this page, she e-mailed me in January 2007. She's currently an English teacher and the yearbook advisor at Castle High School, is married, and has a daughter. Her family's online journal can be found here. Ed Sugimoto — The unflappable "World Wide Ed." From a regular column about the web, he went on to take over much of it, now running just under one gazillion sites (including Oceanic's "Around Town Hawaii"). Janty Sumimoto Jenny Tom — A news guru I worked with at Ka Leo, who made an incredible team with Kellie Onaga. Adele Tomita — Was advertising manager at Ka Leo. I still remember the ritualistic, good-natured battles I had with her on page counts and copy space every week. Tina Torrence — A copy editor at Ka Leo. A few years later, we bumped into her at Liberty House in Ala Moana. But she hasn't been heard from since. Stella M.B. Torres — A columnist at Ka Leo (author of "The View from Out Here" and "The Fresh Joint"). We lost touch with each other for years, it seemed, until we discovered a mutual obsession with the web (although sadly she took her personal site offline in 2001). Born on May 1, 1977 in Manila, Philippines, she's a limitless font of pop culture knowledge, and was a very active and articulate member of the HawaiiStories community. Sharry F. Urada — I worked with her at Ka Leo, where she certainly got around, working several desks on the editorial side before joining the advertising team. In 2002 she competed in the 50th Cherry Blossom Festival. Richard Walker — Dick was a talented photographer, but more importantly, an impossibly fun person I worked with during my years at Ka Leo. He made phrases like "Under the stars!" and "Scores die in inferno!" and "Eh!" into everyday newsroom-speak. Also keeper of the recipe for "Photographers Delight" — a custom, green cocktail — he lived and worked for a while in Idaho before returning to Honolulu, where he's now a shooter for the Star-Bulletin. Mentioned occasionally in these pages: May 2001, August 2001. Shawn Westfall — A copy editor and aspiring thespian who worked with me at Ka Leo (he was a copy editor from 1996-'97, and got the Best Copy Editor award that year). He also performed locally with the comedy troupe Loose Screws. Last seen in San Antonio, Texas. Jason Yadao — A studious fellow who wrote for the features desk at Ka Leo and survived well into the Ancog administration. An anime/manga enthusiast (like Wilma Jandoc), he's writing for the Star-Bulletin. Ryan Yamashiro — A photographer at Ka Leo who went on to become part of the infamous Board of Publications. A military buff, he did some photography for the Hawaii Sports Network.

Hilo (1993-1996):

Ceronda Enocencio — A friend of Jen's from UH-Hilo. Bridgett Campbell — Worked at the Student Activities Center at UH-Hilo, but wrote occasionally for Ke Kalahea. I can still hear her Louisiana accent. Lee Chung Chang Desiree Chang — A photographer who worked with me at Ke Kalahea. She was a friend and peer of Mitchell Dwyer's in the UHH Young Baptists Association. Chris Cordio Dennis K. Djou Mitchell K. Dwyer — One of the coolest guys I knew at UH-Hilo. An English major, he wrote regularly for Ke Kalahea and kicked butt as my Features Editor. He had very long hair, played guitar, and introduced the entire staff (via a small, off-brand CD boombox) to some great music. He was a deep thinker, articulate debater, and never hesitated to let me know when I was being an ass. We see him now and then, not as often as we'd like, as he lives in Honolulu and teaches at ASSETS School. He jumped into the online journaling fray in 2002. Mark D. Fomenko Angelica Gallegos Nicolas Goris Wendy (Hasslinger) Goris Corinne (Denis) Hennessey — Cori was a friend of Jen's, and worked with the Student Activities Council (SAC), which was next door to Ke Kalahea, the student newspaper, at UH-Hilo's Campus Center. She was an extremely warm, happy, caring person with a most disarming California Girl accent. Sure enough, someone soon snapped her up and married her. At last report, she was living in California, and about to become a mom! Lara Inman — A friend of Jen's from UH-Hilo that she continues to praise for her invaluable help in passing Organic Chemistry. We bumped into her in Honolulu in 2001. Charles Itliong Wendy Johns Carl Johnson — The damn coolest geology professor ever. Dahron Johnson — A sharp, opinionated, but immensely thoughtful movie reviewer and columnist who worked with me at Ke Kalahea. Originally from North Carolina, he came to Hawaii when his father accepted a pastorate... making him a son of a preacher man. (Not coincidentally, he loved Pulp Fiction.) He was a shaved guru of music and bicycling, and will forever remembered for a needlessly long conversation with a Pizza Hut employee. "What part of 'extra sauce' do you not understand?" He returned to North Carolina, where he met his wife Kate and graduated in May 2002 from UNC-Greensboro with a double major in Religious Studies and Media Studies. He was profiled by the school's Office for Adult Students. Kolin K. Kettleson — Head of Campus Security when I worked at Ke Kalahea, he was always a pleasure to interview... and had the coolest name to boot. Ellen Kusano — The Grand Master of Campus Center at UH-Hilo. I probably wasn't among her favorite tenants, but she was giving and professional to the end. Active in several UH programs, I ran into her several times even after returning to Honolulu. Eric F. Lee — Originally from Montana, a sports writer at Ke Kalahea who ultimately succeeded me as Editor-in-Chief. Jonathan Levy — Warrants mention at the very least as the man who first introduced me to my wife Jen, one of a dozen women crowded around a table at the Hale Kehau dormitory cafeteria that fateful evening in January 1994. A marine biology brain, he's studied in Hawaii, Massachusetts (Woods Hole), and Florida. He's back in Honolulu, and I still see him now and then. His resume is online. Sherryll Mleynek — My favorite English professor ever. Sherry Moore — One of the most interesting people Jen and I got to know in Hilo. Originally from Homer, Alaska (where Jewel is from), her place in our shared history is memorialized in the photographs she took of us (and her limbs) on April 1, 1994, the first day Jen and I were officially a couple. Allyson Meyers Ian Hideo Murphy — The guy I originally knew as my ex Pam's new boyfriend, I got to like and respect him as editor of Kanilehua, the UH-Hilo literary magazine. He and Pam eventually got married in 1999, but they broke up four years later. Ian is now working for a high-end real estate firm in Honolulu. Paul Nagata Linda Neser Heather Notestine Dawn O'Brien Shannon Olsen — The previous editor of Ke Kalahea, but a nearly permanent fixture among UH-Hilo's assorted student programs for years before and after. Manuel Pearsley — My roommate at UH-Hilo in 1994 and 1995. We (meaning he, his girlfriend Joy Yamaguchi, and me and my girlfriend-turned-wife Jen) dormed together, then later moved to a Kapiolani Street apartment across from campus. An impressively mellow and thoughtful dude whose family lived out in Puna. He's also very sought after: the mention of his name on this site generates quite a bit of e-mail from people looking for him. Molina Pitioi Heidi (Jahn) Pickerel — A friend of Jen's from UH-Hilo, originally from Oregon. Having moved to Honolulu with her husband Jared (whom she met in Hilo) and working briefly at Queen's Hospital, we remain in her debt for helping us move. She and Jared later moved to California. Henrilene Pickens Joel Quebec Genny Renticruz Brendan M. Sagara Chelle Shand Katherine Soram Jennifer Wing — The editor of Kanilehua, the literary magazine at UH-Hilo, and thus our neighbor in Campus Center. She was affectionately dubbed "Jenny Schwing." Karina Zulino — Originally from Brazil, she was one of the more colorful personalities of the Hale Kehau dormitory complex. She maintained a website (now gone).

Ever After (1997-Present):

Beth Berry — Hawaii was lucky to have this super cool transplant from the Mainland. She, her husband Baz, and their baby Beckett (born in Wahiawa) were always an adventure waiting to happen, and a blast to hang out with. Sadly, she returned to the Mainland in the summer of 2004. Of course she's on the web, too, so I can keep up with their hijinks. Lisa A. Devlin — She found my website by chance in 2001, and we've kept in touch ever since. She moved to Honolulu from California, and found work as a web developer (quite a feat!). Also an accomplished photographer, she became an active member of the HawaiiStories community. Burt Lum — A great guy who is impossible not to know... he's everywhere! He runs Mindwind Labs, a technology consulting firm, and previous wrote "Bytemarks," a weekly column on the web in the Honolulu Advertiser (now an independent blog). Nora Weil — A wonderful woman and first-class mom who I met while working with Lacene on her state senate campaign. Sadly, after her husband Rick's retirement from the military in 2004, the family moved to the East Coast.

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